Streaming has become an integral part of fantasy football over the last few years. Whether it be quarterbacks, tight ends, defenses, or heck, even running backs and wide receivers at times. If you don’t know what streaming means, it’s where you’ll play a different player at that position each and every week. While it may sound nuts, it works if you know how to approach the waiver wire.
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How many times have you watched your fantasy matchup on Sunday/Monday, only to go search the waiver wire for your streamer next week and see a player available who has a premier matchup that everyone will attempt to pick up? Not anymore. This article is designed to give you a leg-up on your competition. That’s right, we’ll be adding the players before they’re able to. With that being said, here’s the players you should be adding to your fantasy roster on Sunday morning. I’m going to be using Yahoo as the gauge for ownership, and we’ll stick to players who are less than 40 percent owned.
Quarterbacks
Baker Mayfield (CLE) at TB
If you’ve been paying attention, you know that Mayfield is going to be a good one. After playing the Ravens in Week 5 (where he threw for 342 yards) and the Chargers in Week 6, he’s going to play the defense that’s allowed at least 18.2 fantasy points to every quarterback they’ve played. The Bucs have allowed 13 passing touchdowns through four games and are learning the hard way why you don’t start two rookie cornerbacks. Mayfield’s favorite targets Jarvis Landry and David Njoku also have the best matchups on the field.
Mitch Trubisky (CHI) vs NE
We haven’t seen Trubisky throw a whole lot through four games, as his defense has done wonders. They’ll likely allow some points to Tom Brady and his bevy of pass-catchers, which means we should see Trubisky throw the ball more than his current season-high of 35 times. He’s scored at least 14 fantasy points in 3-of-4 games, so he’s proven to have a semi-decent floor, though it’s possible he gained some much-needed confidence from his six-touchdown game against the Bucs in Week 4. Since holding Deshaun Watson to 13.0 points in the opener, the Patriots have allowed 3-of-4 quarterbacks to score at least 17.5 fantasy points against them.
Last ditch option: Joe Flacco (BAL) at NO
Running Backs
Marlon Mack (IND) vs BUF
It’s tough to find running backs on the waiver wire, considering we know which ones will get volume and which ones won’t. But somehow, it’s possible that we can snag a starting running back off waivers? The Colts have shown enough frustration in Jordan Wilkins that they gave Nyheim Hines 15 carries last week, and you know they don’t want to do that. Mack would see a minimum of 10 touches in a plus-matchup with the Bills where you know the game wouldn’t get out of hand. The Colts offensive line won’t do any favors, but Mack has homerun ability if there’s a hole to hit.
Chris Ivory (BUF) at IND
This is a preemptive move, as it’s very possible that LeSean McCoy is traded before their game against the Colts. The rumor mill has been churning and it seems like the Eagles might have cleared enough cap space to bring him on. The idea that you can get a starting running back off waivers is a good thing, right? Through five games, the Colts have allowed six running backs to finish as top-32 options, so he could offer flex-play viability as his floor. Heck, even with McCoy active last week, Ivory totaled 14 carries.
Ito Smith (ATL) vs NYG
With the news coming out that Devonta Freeman is dealing with a bone contusion on his foot, his status in the near future is cloudy at best. He’s missed time throughout the year with a knee injury, so the Falcons could decide to play it safe with him, especially when you consider they’ve won just one game this year. Smith has played well in a complementary role and in the two games prior to Freeman coming back, he’d seen seven targets. With the Falcons being involved in shootout after shootout, it’s not a bad time to add a piece of their offense, especially one who has scored in each of the last two weeks.
Duke Johnson (CLE) at TB
Many have moved on and it’s understandable considering Johnson’s lack of a role in the offense to this point. But here’s the thing… Carlos Hyde had his first scoreless game last week and will play against the Chargers who’ve only allowed Todd Gurley 50 yards on the ground this week. The Bucs may seem like a great matchup, but you’d likely be shocked to learn they’ve yet to allow more than 61 rushing yards to any running back. They have, however, been destroyed by receiving backs. Again, Johnson hasn’t had a big role to start the season, but it should grow very soon.
Wide Receivers
Willie Snead (BAL) vs NO
Going against his former team that cut him? Oh yeah, the slot just happens to be the biggest area of weakness for them, as Patrick Robinson was placed on injured reserve earlier this year. Since that time they’ve allowed Mohamed Sanu 4/36/1, Sterling Shepard 10/77/1, and Jamison Crowder 4/55/0. Snead has been producing more than most realize, scoring at least 10.4 PPR points in 4-of-5 games.
Antonio Callaway (CLE) at TB
As mentioned with Duke Johnson above, the Bucs don’t allow much on the ground, so the Browns will have to put their trust into Mayfield and the passing game. Callaway has been bad when it comes to catching the ball (kind of a big deal, I know), but he’s getting targeted because he’s getting open. With Rashard Higgins dealing with a sprained MCL, he should continue to see high volume, which is what we want with streamers. He’s seen 24 targets in the last three games and that was with Higgins in the lineup.
Christian Kirk (ARI) vs DEN
We know that Chris Harris Jr. is a phenomenal slot cornerback, but we also know that Larry Fitzgerald is the Cardinals slot receiver, which will leave Kirk matched-up with Bradley Roby and either Adam Jones or Isaac Yiadom, as Jones was hurt in last week’s game. In two games with Josh Rosen, Kirk has seen nine targets which have amounted to 7/113/1, so there’s reason for optimism. The Broncos have also allowed at least one passing score in every game.
Taylor Gabriel (CHI) vs NE
If we’ve learned anything about Bill Belichick over the years, it’s that he’ll attempt to take away the opposition’s No. 1 target in the passing game, which would be Allen Robinson. Because of that, Gabriel and Trey Burton should be featured in the passing-game. All this comes along with the fact that Gabriel has now seen 24 targets in their last three games, as well as four rushing attempts. With Anthony Miller still no sure thing to return next week, Gabriel should have plenty of opportunity.
Others to consider: D.J. Moore (CAR) at PHI, Kelvin Benjamin (BUF) at IND
Should be owned: Tre’Quan Smith (NO), DeVante Parker (MIA)
Tight Ends
Ricky Seals-Jones (ARI) vs DEN
It’s pretty clear the Cardinals really want Seals-Jones to be a part of the offense, as he’s seen 25 targets through five games and that’s despite a measly 139 attempts for the entire team. He’d been trending in the right direction until his big fat zero last week, though he still saw six targets in that game. The Broncos have already allowed five different tight ends total at least 49 yards against them and that’s despite just one tight end seeing more than five targets. He’s a streaming option in Week 7.
Niles Paul (JAX) vs HOU
We don’t want to take too much away from just one game, but Paul took over for Austin Seferian-Jenkins last week and saw nine targets in the process. Keep in mind that Seferian-Jenkins saw just 20 targets in his five games. Bortles seemed to favor Paul, who produced 7/65/0 on his targets in a good matchup. Again, Bortles threw the ball 61 times in that game and it was a good matchup, but so is it this week when the Texans come to town. They stop the run game very well, but have now allowed three top-eight tight ends through five weeks, and that’s despite just two of them seeing more than three targets. If the Jaguars want to move the ball on Houston, they’ll have to do it on quick, short passes.
C.J. Uzomah (CIN) at KC
Just as suspected, Uzomah is the starting tight end for the Bengals, who will be heading out to Kansas City to play against a Chiefs defense that’s been demolished by tight ends without Eric Berry at safety. They’ve allowed at least 9.7 PPR points to 4-of-5 tight ends, which includes Jesse James, Niles Paul, and Jeff Heuerman. He’s not seen a whole lot of targets, but this could net a season-high with Kendall Fuller matching-up with Tyler Boyd, who has been Andy Dalton‘s safety blanket to this point.
D/ST
Indianapolis Colts vs BUF
We’ve done this every week and it’s worked out much better than it hasn’t. Play the defense who’s going up against the Bills, as they’ve provided at least 8.0 fantasy points in standard leagues in 4-of-5 games, with the lone exception being the Vikings, who were really hurt by Kirk Cousins in that game. The Bills offensive line has now allowed 22 sacks through five games, and they’ve turned the ball over at least twice in 3-of-5 games.
Buffalo Bills at IND
In case you haven’t noticed, the Bills defense has been playing really well the last three weeks. They’ve held the combination of Kirk Cousins, Aaron Rodgers, and Marcus Mariota to just 40 points the last three weeks, tacking on eight sacks, three interceptions, and five fumble recoveries. In that time, they’ve been the No. 2 fantasy defense. Knowing that Andrew Luck is now down to two healthy offensive lineman and tends to take a lot of risks, the Bills should be one of the better streaming options in Week 7.
Last ditch option: Detroit Lions at MIA
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Mike Tagliere is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeTagliereNFL.
